before God ibid. 280 c. Why we should do thus 283 The Application 288 Doct. 4. A good Conscience has a great and lasting influence upon the Life and all the Actions 291 There is no Action but Conscience is to examine ibid. A good Conscience will not admit of loose Principles 292 'T will not abuse Christian Liberty ibid. It takes notice what Principles we are acted from 293 It eyes the matter of our Actions 294 Our Obligation to the Moral Law ibid. The Precepts of the Gospel 295 A good Conscience looks to the Manner of our Obedience ibid. And to the End of it ibid. A good Conscience particularly has an influence upon our holy Duties 296 The works of our Calling 297 Our Words and Discourses 299 The Manner of spending our Time ibid. Our Natural Actions 300 Our Recreations ibid. Our carriage in Relations 301 Behaviour in Prosperity and Adversity c. p. 302 Application 303 Doct. 5. A good Conscience steels a mans heart with courage and makes him fearless before his Adversaries 305 The Grounds of this Fearlesness 306 The Vses 307 Doct. 6. Those that are truly Conscientious love their Enemies and wish them no worse than if they were their Brethren 308 The Reasons of this ibid. 309 The Application 309 310 The Conclusion of the whole Discourse in an Address to Conscience 311 c. There is in Man a Conscience ACTS 23. 1. And Paul earnestly beholding the Council said Men and Brethren I have lived in all good Conscience before God untill this Day IN the foregoing Chapter the Apostle Paul declares at large unto the Jews the miraculous manner of his conversion to the Christian Faith and being thus converted he was very forward to propagate that Faith which once he endeavoured to destroy He tells them plainly that in opposing Jesus of Nazareth he had been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fighter against God himself and that the Stone which heretofore he had stumbled at is that chief Corner-stone which is laid in Zion for a Foundation on which whoever builds his building shall never fall This he perceived evidently in his way to Damascus as he was journeying with Authority and Commission to persecute the Christians Christ himself both meets and stops him at Mid-day he saw a Light from Heaven above the Brightness of the Sun which did both strike him Blind with its excessive Shining and yet also opened his Eyes to behold his former Errour in setting himself against the Lord of Life and Glory The design of this Relation was to convince the Jewes and to perswade them to embrace that Jesus who was crucified indeed that he might redeem them from the curse which they could never escape by any other means but liveth by the power of God and is exalted far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Well They hear the Apostle with patience untill he told them of his Commission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and then a most Satanical Envy and Fury stops their Ears and they cry out Away with such a Fellow from the Earth And truly from the Earth they had quickly sent him if the chief Captain Lysias understanding that he was a Roman that is though a Jew by birth yet having the priviledge of a Roman Citizen (a) Nâ—runt historiae Romanae periti quosdam in provinciae civitate fuisse donatos si de Republicâ bene meriti hanc sibi mercedem à Proconsulibus rogarent ita nihil absurdi est natum fuisse Romanum civem qui tamen ex provinciâ remotâ oriundus nunquam in Italiâ pedem posuisset Calv. in Act. Apost had not rescued him out of their hands Being thus delivered from the multitude he is brought and set before the Councel He stands alone indeed to make his defence but as the Lord stood by him to strengthen him so he brings with him a good Conscience which was as much nay more to make him undaunted then if he had had a thousand witnesses of his innocency And Paul earnestly beholding the Councel said Men and Brethren I have lived in all good Conscience before God unto this day The words contain the Apostles profession in which several particulars are very remarkable 1. He professes that he had lived in good Conscience he speaks of Conscience to his Adversaries that he might awaken Their's to do their Duty that hereby they might be hindered from doing wrong to him but more wrong to themselves by unrighteous judgment He farther adds that his Conscience was good and did not at all accuse but cleer him 2. He had acted as before God and had good Assurance that God approved of what he had done he had cause to be confident that the Supream and Most Righteous Judge would not condemn him but was pleased at that for which the Jews were so much offended Chrisost observes (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost in Act. Apost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Apostle speaks thus to take away the Jewes prejudice against him and to convince them that he had done nothing which was injurious to them or worthy of the bonds which were upon him 3. He had approved himself unto God and Conscience in all things he was not ruled by carnal interest or fleshly Wisdom but there was simplicity and godly sincerity in the whole course of his conversation since his first conversion to the Christian Faith 4. Neither was this only for a while but even unto that very day wherein there were such loud exclamations against him as if he were unfit to live any longer in the World 5. You are to take notice of the persons before whom he professes all this and those were the Council of the Jews And 1. He stedfastly and earnestly lookes upon them to shew both his Courage and his Innocency he is not afraid to face them neither does he cast down his eyes through guilt or shame 2. He calls them not only Men but Brethren His Brethren they were according to the Flesh and though full of hatred against him yet he had a Brotherly love to them and his Hearts desire was that they might be saved I shall observe from the Text several points of Doctrine 1. God has placed a Conscience in Man The Apostle had a Conscience and 't was a good Conscience all others have a Conscience likewise either good or evil 2. To have a good conscience should be every one 's greatest care Every one should strive to resemble the Apostle and be able to say I have lived in good Conscience 3. A good Conscience will make men to set themselves as before God continually I have lived in good Conscience before God 4. A good Conscience has a great and lasting influence upon the Life and all the Actions I have lived in all good Conscience and that unto this day 5. A good Conscience makes a Man fearless and and steels his Heart with courage when he stands before his Enemies Paul
fellowship with him that we endeavour to do that which is good in his sight And as we would escape his anger and his smoaking jealousie which will utterly consume us that we beware of that which is worst of evils sinning against him 2. Consider the Power of Conscience if we take Power for Authority God has given great Authority unto the Conscience And a Man must rather disobey Kings and Emperours then disobey Conscience Nebuchadnezzar commanded the three Children to Worship the Golden Image that he had set up Conscience commanded them to refuse to Worship it They obey Conscience and rather than Conscience should fly in their faces for idolatry they venture to be cast into a fiery furnace Dan. 3. If we take Power for Ability Conscience is a thing of greater force and strength If it be good how can it sweeten any condition though in it self never so calamitous but if Conscience be bad 't is sufficient to put gall and bitternesse into all your Comforts 3. If you heed Conscience 't is the way to have you and your Consciences agree together Conscience will dwell with you and you cannot help it Oh therefore hearken to it and satisfie it for this will be much for your own peace and satisfaction There is a twofold Peace which it highly concerns us to look after Peace above and Peace within Peace above with God we should be sollicitous about there is no contending with Him that is Almighty Let the Potsherds strive with the Potsherds of the Earth but wo unto him that striveth with his Maker Esa 45. 9. How earnest then should we be that being justified by Faith we may have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And next unto peace with God we should endeavour after peace within even peace of Conscience and if we hearken and do what an enlightned Conscience commands and walk before God in Truth Conscience will speak Peace and that peace it will be true 4. Consider That in the hour of distresse and especially at the time of your dissolution the good Word of Conscience will do more good to you than all the World A cleer Conscience makes a triumphant Saint before he does expire Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is Peace Psal 37. 37. How many have lookt death in the face undaunted because Conscience has born witnesse to their sincerity * Melch. Adamus in vitâ Lutheri pag. 154 155. When Luther was sick of his last distemper and grew towards his end he waked at midnight and perceiving his Earthly Tabernacle was falling to the ground he brake forth into Thanksgiving to God for revealing Christ to him whom he believed whom he professed whom he loved whom he celebrated and whom the Pope with the Company of the wicked did persecute Then he prayed to his Heavenly Father to receive his spirit and added though I must now lay down this Body yet I know most certainly that I shall ever be with the Lord and none shall pluck me out of his hand Here was a Conscience cleer a Death without Fear and an abundant entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom 5. Heed Conscience for 't will go with you to the bar of God (t) Quando Deus judex erit alius testis quà m Conscientia tua non erit Inter Judicem justum Conscientiam tuam noli timere nisi causam tuam Augustin Enarrat in Psal 37. pag. mihi 323. and certainly 't will be sad to be followed to that Tribunal by a guilty Conscience crying out against you If Conscience excuse you and plead for you before your Judge how sweet and comfortable will that be if it produce sincere obedience and the Righteousness of Christ apprehended by Faith to cover all your guilt and make up all your imperfections this will make you lift up your heads with joy and confidence But if Conscience does accuse you of impenitency in sin all your days though it often warned you to mourn and turn these accusations as they cannot be evaded so they will be unconceivably terrifying and confounding to you 6. Heed Conscience for 't will remain in you forever 't will be Eternally with the Saints in Glory After a Believer has fought the good fight has finished his course has kept the Faith has been acquitted at the judgement seat and has received the Crown of Righteousness then Conscience will be fully at rest Work is now done danger is now past and the possession of the inheritance is secured Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out Conscience also will be eternally with the reprobates in misery And as Job's Messengers did tell him that his Cattel were destroyed and his Substance taken away and they only were left alone to tell him So Conscience will speak after the same manner unto the damned O you self-destroying Sinners your consolation is all received your good things are come to an end your profits and Pleasures are quite fled away and gone And I only am left alone to tell you To tell you of your madness in loving sin in idolizing a vain World in slighting Salvation and bringing your selves notwithstanding all warnings into Eternal misery I have done with the first Doctrine That God has placed a Conscience in Man Doct. 2. The second Doctrine is this To have a good Conscience should be every one 's greatest care This is one end of the Commandement not onely that there may be Love a pure Heart and Faith unfeigned but also a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1. 5. so 1 Pet. 3. 16. Sanctifie the Lord God in your Hearts having a good Conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of Evil doers they may be ashamed who falsly accuse your good Conversation in Christ 'T is the observation of Augustine (u) Ecce quid prodest plena bonis arca inanis Conscientia Bona vis habere bonus non vis esse Non vides te erubescere debere de bonis tuis si domus tua plena est bonis te habet malum Quid enim est quod velis habere malum Nihil omnino non uxorem non filium non filiam non servum non ancillam non villam non tunicam postremò non caligam tamen vis habere malam vitam August De verbis Domini Serm. 12. pagin mihi 57. Tom. 10. that Men are willing to have all things else good but their Consciences are bad and they themselves are Evil. There is no man but desires his Wife should be good his Children good his Servants good the House that he dwells in good the An he lives in good the Food he eats good the Clothes he wares good he does not care to have any thing bad about him How comes it to passe that he is too well content to have a bad Conscience within him This is our natural
heard his Word and according as Conscience was perswaded it was her Duty and Interest she minded the One thing needful and made choice of that better part which could not be taken away from her Luke 10. 39 42. 3. Pray that the Lord would open your hearts When Lydia's heart was Opened then she attended to what was spoken by the Apostle Paul Acts 16. 14. The Seeing Eye and the Hearing Ear the Lord has made even both of them Beg that he would throughly awaken Conscience and keep it awake Scoffers do say that we do make Prayer a Drug in all our prescritps I confess we do so and are not ashamed of it to Pray is to call in the help of the great Physitian without whom all means that are used must needs be ineffectual for our Cure Every good gift is from above and comes down from the Father of Lights and therefore Conscience can be made to see and to be attentive by no other Thus of that Third particular The goodness of Conscience lies in its being Watchful end attentive 4. The goodness of Conscience lies in its tenderness A great deal of tenderness there is in the World how tender are many in points of Honour They cannot put up any thing that looks like an Affront but demand satisfaction their hearts rise against any that stand in their Light or lessen their Repute nay some are so tender of their Fame that they will venture even Life it self to secure it How tender are others of their Estates they will part with their Eyes almost as soon as part with their Wealth Their Gold is their Confidence and their God Others are tender of their Relations Wives Children how careful are they that no harm befall them and especially of their own Flesh they are tender the Body can lack nothing but many sollicitous thoughts are spent about it for its supply and if it be in any danger for its security But all this while where shall we find any tenderness of Conscience Some do look upon this as an Argument of a mean Spirit others fancy this tenderness to be be needless and that it onely betrays want of wit and will be prejudicial to our Interest But certainly since God is so tender of his Honour and Authority and since he will so severely punish them that break his Commandments Conscience cannot be over tender in this matter we are truly the more wise the more tender we are Some do think the English word Righteous is derived from Right-wise I am sure the Righteous Man is the right wise Man he whose Conscience is stupid is in the worst sence fool-hardy The tender Conscience has these ensuing Properties whereby its tenderness may be known 1. The tender Conscience is afraid of Secret sins as well as Open of heart-sins as well as those which appear in the Conversation Open sins are worse than Secret in this regard because of scandal but in secret sins there is a more fixed resolution many times against Reformation When sin retires to the Heart and is not so much taken Notice of by any breaking forth in the Practice its strength may be greatest just as an Oven unto which Wicked Mens hearts are compared Hos 7. 7. is then hottest when 't is stop'd closest Sin may Reign most absolutely in the Heart which is its Throne when 't is not at all discerned by the Eye of others Thus 't is said of the Persian Kings that none were more absolute Monarchs and yet they were very seldom seen by the People (d) Apud Persus Persona Regis sub specie Majestatis occulitâ—r Justin lib. 1. A tender Conscience is afraid of open sin because hereby the way of Truth may come to be evil spoken of 't is afraid of secret also because as these when they prevail do commonly abound more in Number so besides the Lord who is most offended at them is privy to them O the Foolish contempt of God when his Eye is despised and onely Mans is feared God hates sin ten thousand times more than Man can hate it and can likwise inflict ten thousand times a greater punishment Solomon tells us the Lord requires the Heart Prov. 23. 26. My Son give me thy Heart a tender Conscience dares not allow sin so much as a Lodging there though it seem content never to shew its Face abroad 2. A tender Conscience is afraid of little sins as well as great As Camels are not swallowed so Gnats are strained at (e) Quicquid nunc parvi pendendo transimus palpando tegimus dissimulando negligimus quanto illic cruciatu vindex flamma consumet Vtinam magis nunc daret quis capiti meo aquos oculis meis fontem lachrimarum fortè enim non reperiâ—et ignis exurens quod interim fluens lachryma diluisset Bern. de Dil. Deo p. mihi 408. Little sins are great enough if unrepented of to undo the sinner there is no sin so little but there is a need of the Blood of Jesus to make an attonement for it When we speak of the degrees of sin we should think of the degrees of torment in Hell though some places in Hell are hotter than others yet none are cool those that are least of all tormented shall be tormented for ever and shall have no cause to brag of ease So though some sins are more evil and hainous than others yet there are none but what are very bad and if made light of will prove heavy enough to sink the Soul into condemnation A tender Conscience is perswaded of all this and does not cry concerning any sin Is it not a little one A little Leak in a Ship is feared and stop'd a little fire in an undue place is feared and quenched a little sin by a tender Conscience is not allowed but mortified Little sins are not without their peculiar Aggravation for we stand with God in a small matter this Argues great carelessness and neglect of him And hence that saying holds true Quò levius mandatum eò gravius peccatum The easier the Command the more is the transgression aggravated 3. A tender Conscience is afraid of the Occasions of Evil it knows very well how vehement the bent of corrupted Nature is and upon this score 't is unwilling we should come where there is forbidden Fruit lest that Fruit be lusted after and then eaten He that ventures upon Occasions of sin 't is a sign that there is a secret hankering after it and then no wonder if he fall into it or at least that he has high thoughts of his own strength to withstand any Temptation and such self-confidence is ordinarily punished by Divine withdrawings and then to be sure Temptation will be prevalent Peter cryed out though all men should be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended and afterwards though I should dye with thee yet will I not deny thee Mat. 26. 33. 35. He unadvisedly follows Christ to the High-Priests
as of another Man surely he would ill resent it God is the King of Glory and if his Presence is not regarded we make no more of him than if he were an Idol which has Eyes but sees not Ears but hears not and in whose power 't is not to do either good or evil 2. Not to set our selves before God is to thwart the End that he aims at both in his Word and Works His Works are many and great that we might stand in awe of the Worker and in his Word he has told us what a God he is that we might fear before him 3. To set our selves before God is the way to keep up the Authority of Conscience the Word in Consciences Mouth will be more heeded when our Eyes are open to look upon that Holy and Powerful God whose Officer Conscience is 4. To set our selves before God is both for our Delight and Advantage The Presence of God is terrible indeed to the evil Conscience but those whose hearts are cleansed are glad that the Lord is ever with them VVith what satisfaction and Triumph did the Church speak those words Psal 46. 7. 11. The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our Refuge Selah And the profit which we reap from a sence of this Presence is very great for when we hear and pray and perform other Duties as in the Lords presence then they turn to good Account but when God is not regarded to be sure we are not at all Advantaged nay our very Duties do but increase our guilt and hardness VSE 1. Of Reproof 1. How are they to be blamed who instead of setting themselves before God Banish the thoughts of him and Live without him in the World This forgetfulness of God is the Root of presumption and boldness in sin when there is no sense or fear of the Lords Eye or Hand then the hearts of the Sons of Men will be be fully set in them to do evil This forgetfulness of God encourages also to Hypocrisie and so the whited Sepulchre do but appear beautiful outwardly to the Eyes of Man the Hypocrite is not concerned at the Eye of God which sees all that filthiness and rottenness that is within 2. How are they to be blamed who instead of having recourse to God who is just before them place their confidence in the Creatures The Papist is concerned who prays to Saints and Angels 't is said indeed for his defence that we speak unto Courtiers to intercede for us to a Prince and therefore we must speak unto the Saints departed to Intercede for us to God But I shall retort this similitude thus Suppose thou wert just before a King and he should give thee leave and command thee to Offer thy Petition to him would it not be unreasonable then to send to a Courtier that is a Thousand Miles off to speak a good word for thee God is just before thee and has commanded thee to call upon him and is ready to hear the Saints in Heaven are a great way off their Mediation is needless Blind Papist open thy eyes and see God near thee and thou wilt never pray to Saints and Angels more The Protestant also is concerned for he also places his Confidence in the Creature when he looks upon his Wealth as his strong City and his dependance is upon things visible and not as it ought to be alone upon the invisible God VSE II. Of Exhortation Let Conscience have this Effect upon all of you to make you set your selves before God 1. This will make you to abhor your selves (f) Quantisper extra terram non respicimus propriâ justitiâ sapientiâ virtute pulchre contenti nobis suavissimè blandimur tantum non semidei videmur At si semel coeperimus cogitationem in Deum erigere expendere qualis sit quà m exacta justitiae sapientiae vitutis ejus perfectio ad cujus amussim conformari nos oportet quod antea in nobis falso justitiae praetextu arridebat pro summâ iniquitate mox sor descet quod mirisicè imponebat sapientiae titulo pro extremâ stultitiâ foetebit quod virtutis faciem prae se ferebat miserrima impotentia esse arguetur adeò divinae puritati malè respondet quod videtur in nobis vel absolutissimum Calvin Instit. l. 1. cap. 1. Job 42. 5 6. Mine Eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and Repent in Dust and Ashes The view of Gods Power Wisdom Holiness Justice will make your VVeakness and Folly and Defilement and Guilt to be the more apparent 2. This will make you to resist Satan and to contemn the things of the World which he Offers to you God is ready to give you Power against the Tempter and all that he Offers is nothing less than nothing and Vanity compared with the All-sufficient God David when his Eye was cleared and he saw God no longer Admired the Prosperity of the wicked but said Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73. 25. 3. This will make you to have an eye to your Hearts because God looks into and requires these and to be more Spiritual and Lively in all your Duties and more generally to please him in all your Actions VVhen you consider seriously that He does beset you behind and before and does lay his Hand upon you Psal 139. 5. You will be afraid to provoke him lest that Hand do crush you in the very act of the next Transgression 4. If you set your selves before God this will make you to be the better contented when outward comforts are taken from you Outward Comforts may be rejoyced in but for Gods sake God is to be rejoyced in for his own sake And his goodness and fulness being still the same he is as much to be delighted in when the Creatures are gone as when they are present When the Figg-trees did not blossom and there was no Fruit in the Vines yet the Prophet sayes I will Joy in the Lord and Rejoyce in the God of my Salvation Hab. 3. 17 18. 5. This will make you Fearless of Men nay undaunted in the hour of your Dissolution VVhen you are in the Valley of the shadow of Death you will fear no evil as long as you see that God is with you and Death will be so far from separating you from his Presence or from his Love that 't will send you nearer to him than ever and admit you to a fuller enjoyment of him than can be vouchsafed to any under the Sun Thus of that third Doctrine A good Conscience makes men to set themselves before God continually Doct. 4. The Fourth Doctrine is this That a good Conscience has a great and lasting influence upon the life and all the Actions I have lived sayes the Apostle in all good Conscience and that unto this day so Heb. 13. 18. We trust we have a good Conscience in all
be under obedience and as this obedience must be yeilded to God without delay so we must be sure to stick unto his testimonies and persevere unto the end If ye continue in my word says Christ then are ye my Disciples indeed John 8. 31. But after we have done our best and most we must humbly and believingly look unto Jesus for the covering of our imperfections and that we and our performances may be accepted 7. A good Conscience looks to the End of our obedience and that the design of our actions be as it ought And our end should be not onely the obtaining of a reward but the Glory of God John 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much Fruit so shall ye be my Disciples we should aim also at the credit and adorning of the Gospel and the good of men Good living is for the benefit of others in more regards than one Men are benefited by our good works of Justice and Mercy and such like and our doing of these works may help to convince them that there is an excellency and efficacy in the Gospel which brings forth Fruits that be so excellent You see how a good Conscience is concerned in the Conversation In the second place I am to instance in several kinds of actions which a good Conscience has an influence upon 1. A good Conscience has an influence upon our holy duties It is not satisfied unless we begin the day with these God should have our first thoughts and our affections and praises should be our morning sacrifice In the morning we should direct our prayer unto him and look up Ps 5. 1 2 3. The Scriptures are to be searched that our Hearts may be instructed quickened purified strengthned and revived by this word of Grace A good Conscience will not suffer holy duties to be done negligently it knows how treacherous the heart is and therefore watches over it that it may engage in the Lords service and not start aside like a deceitful bow (f) Non venitur ad bonam conscientiam nisi per cordis custodiam Cor ad vitam se vertit aut ad mortem velle peccare malum peccare pejus in peccato persever are pessimum nolle poenitere mortale Bernard de Interior dom cap. 24. Conscience will not be put off with words that are good or with a bended knee or a lifted up Eye or a sigh now and then but looks that Holy desires be strong and stirring that Faith be acted upon the promises of God who is so ready to be found of them that seek him with their whole Heart Deut. 4. 29. A good Conscience looks upon holy duties as things of grand concernment if these are well done it will be well with us if ill done it will be ill with us for ever In your Trades you are getting a livelihood but in your duties you are or should be minding a better and enduring substance What does deserve your pains and time and serious endeavours if the favour of God and the fulness of Christ and an Heavenly Kingdom do not what manner of duties should ours be since we aim at such things in the doing of them 2. A good Conscience has an influence upon the works of our Callings It will not allow of an unlawful Calling and that is to be styled an unlawful Calling in which a livelihood is gotten by serving and gratifying the lusts of men The Harlots way is unlawful and Stage-players is little better 'T is a wicked thing to live by the sins of others and by helping to undo and ruine them for ever And as the Calling must be Lawful so it must be Lawfully managed A good Conscience will take care that there be not an over eagerness after wealth which is of a perishing Nature for the time is short and therefore they that Buy must be as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing of it for the Fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. And as for unjust and dishonest gain a good Conscience can by no means allow it Do Justly is a Law so deeply engraven in the heart of Men by Nature and so often required in the Scripture that where injustice is we may conclude there is no goodness or tenderness in the Conscience (f) Bona conscientia est si habet in corde puritatem in ore veritatem in actione rectitudinem Bernard De Conscien cap. 4. pag. mihi 1099. VVhen this is indeed awakened though other sins do flie in the sinners face yet if any thing has been gotten wrongfully this in a special manner is a burthen neither is there any rest till Restitution be made either to the Person wronged or if he cannot be found unto the poor That Scripture should ever be Ringing in our ears in all Trading and Business 1 Thes 4. 6. That no Man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such And not onely Injustice but Idleness in the Calling is to be shunned for this Idleness is the way to cloath a Man with Rags and exposes to innumerable temptations (g) T is a good answer to the tempter Non licet non vacat 'T is not lawfull neither am I at leisure to do what thou wouldst have me 3. A good Conscience has an Influence upon our Words and Discourses for a great part of Pure and Vndefiled Religion does lie in brideling of the Tongue James 1. 26. Our Communication should be such as may administer Grace unto the Hearers A good Conscience will not admit of Impiety in our Discourse and certainly Oaths and Curses are very impious Lesser Oaths are not to be sworn but greater as by the God of Heaven the Blood and wounds of the Lord Jesus argue sinners to be daring and how fearful is it to hear them calling upon God to damn them Such things Argue that there is no good Conscience Neither will this admit of Impurity in our Communication for filthy and foolish talking is condemned Eph. 5. and is a sign of a corrupt and unrenewed heart out of the abundance of which the mouth speaketh Finally a good Conscience will not suffer us to be Injurious to any in our Discourses by Defaming by Back-biting by Slandering of them Those that take up Reproaches against their Neighbours and spread them their own mouths condemn them and plainly prove that they are not Citizens of Zion Psal 15. 1 2 3. 4. A good Conscience has an Influence upon our Time that it may be well and wisely Husbanded This is more precious than Gold that perishes and if the Goldsmith does look upon all gold as worth saving surely every moment of Time is worth Redeeming That which makes other things of less value namely the shortness of their continuance makes Time of greater value 'T is the more to be prized because 't will so quickly be at an
end A good Conscience will make us pass the time of our Sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. It will not allow any time to sin though indeed sin will be apt to steal time away It will not allow the VVorld to ingrosse all our time but 't will be Liberal of time that the Soul and Eternity may be provided for 5. A good Cnoscience has an influence upon our Natural Actions as Eating Drinking Sleeping c. It takes care that there be not excess in these If we Eat to Gluttony and Drink to Drunkenness we are rather Beasts than Men and surely far from being Saints And if we sleep too much we seem to lie buried all that while and while too much in our Beds we are but unprofitable Burthens of the Earth And as Excesse in these Actions is avoided by a good Conscience so the glory of God is the End unto which they are Directed 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether ye eat or drink or whatever you do do all to the Glory of God 6. A good Conscience has an Influence upon your Recreations You must not says Conscience be Prodigal of your Estates nor of your time in these You must not needlesly torment and be cruel to the Creatures which groan sufficiently already under the sin of Man you must take heed of Passion in your Recreations A good Conscience will put us in mind that we must Recreate our selves that we may be more fit for business if therefore Recreations justle out Duty or indispose us to it the End of them is not obtained I might also add that a good Conscience will take Notice of our garb and if you will but hearken to it it will tell you plainly That Men and Women Professing Godliness should not go in such kind of gay Attire as the Rogues and Ranters and Whores of the Town wear 7. A good Conscience will have an Influence upon your Carriage in your Relations All Relations call for Duty and unless we do our Duty and are good in our Relations we cannot be said to be good in reality The great Fundamental Relation is between Man and Wife A good Conscience therefore will take care that these Yoke-fellows come together in an Holy manner it will not allow of Incest or Marrying within forbidden degrees no force must be used nor marrying contrary to the consent of Parents nor must a Believer be unequally Yoaked with one that 's none 2 Cor. 6. 14. For if the Family at first be not piously erected God may be so much provoked that it may Labour and Travel under the Burthen of his Anger ever after A good Conscience will make the Husband Loving Careful Tender of his Wives Person and especially of her Soul A good Conscience will make the Wife Affectionate Faithful to Reverence her Husband and to be Subject to him in every thing A good Conscience will make Parents to bring up their Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and 't will make Children to Honour and to Obey their Parents and to be a support and a Comfort to them A good Conscience will make Masters to give unto their Servants that which is Just and Equal considering they have a Master in Heaven with whom there is no respect of Persons and 't will make Servants with good will to do Service as unto the Lord and not unto Men it will stop their mouths when about to Answer again it will make them diligent and to shew all good Fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 8. A good Conscience has an Influence upon your Behaviour both in Prosperity and Adversity In Prosperity 't will make you take heed of forgetting God Idolizing the Gifts and lightly esteeming the Giver 't will make you take heed of being high minded and trusting in uncertain Riches You have little Reason to be puft up because you have more thick Clay than others and to look upon them therefore with scorn and contempt you should contemn your own Riches but not your poor Brother who may perhaps be much Richer towards God than you These Riches because uncertain are not to be trusted in 't is easier for a Camel to enter into the Eye of a Needle than for them who trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God In Adversity a good Conscience will make you to beware of Impatience under the Rod Incorrigibleness by it and of Inconstancy and drawing back from God after the Rod is taken off from you 9. A good Conscience will have an Influence upon you in reference to your Company It will make you to shun Erroneous Company lest you be led away with their Errors and embrace divers and strange Doctrines and to flee from Profane Society for if these are not avoided you will never keep the Commands of God to any purpose and if you love them and will not leave them you are likely to go to Hell for Company along with them 10. A good Conscience will make you Vseful in your Generations 't will make you Merciful to the Bodies of others giving them what is needful to your Power and not barely saying Depart in Peace be ye Warmed and Filled James 2. And not onely Merciful to the Bodies but especially to the Souls of others and how much good may you do to Souls by being Publick Spirited much in Prayer for them giving Counsel and Reproof to them and being exemplary in all Holy conversation and godliness before their Eyes 11. A good Conscience will make you daily to walk with God and to die daily that day that you do not walk with God but neglect him and his Service and venture to sin against him you have Reason to cry out with that Roman Emperour Diem perdidi I have lost a day You should every day also consider your latter end Live as Strangers and Pilgrims (h) Quid in mundo stabile quid firmum Quale istud bonum quod semper timeas amittere quod vel auferendum abs te metuas vel à te relinquendum scias Quis illius volupt at is fructus qui statim ut cessaverit videbitur tibi non fuisse Age jam transactum vitae tuae tempus animo revolve Nonne tibi umbra videtur instar somnii tenuis c. Quod si haec possumus hic dicere ubi quamvis brevis tamen quia praesens est vita ista magni penditur Quid in futuro dicturi sumus ubi majori aetatis scientiâ transactum omne pro nihilo est Augustin Epist. 142. A good Conscience by putting you in mind of Death and Judgment which will follow after Death will make you to walk every day with an Holy Circumspection and to be diligent that you may be found of God in Peace and that your latter end may be Peace I come now to the Application VSE I. Of Information If a good Conscience has such an Influence upon the Life and Conversation
then Learn if the Conversation be bad Conscience must needs be bad also If wickedness be Ordinarily practised in the Life 't is a sign either that Conscience is stupid and takes little notice of what is done or if it does observe yet 't is without power to restrain and hinder it 2. Learn what an Happiness 't is to a Nation to have much of a Good Conscience among them This will hinder Warres and Fightings and Confusion this will hinder Injustice and Oppression and Uncleanness This would cause Unity and Peace turning our Swords into Plough-shares and our Spears into Pruning-hooks and prevent our hurting and destroying one another any more Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. Those are Enemies to the common Good who endeavour to debauch the Consciences of men for they go the ready way to fill the places where they live with all Impiety and Unrighteousness VSE II. Of Advice which shall be in the words of the Psalmist Shew that you have indeed a good Conscience by departing from Evil and by doing Good Psal 37. 27. 1. Depart from Evil. There cannot possibly be a greater Evil than Sin this is the procuring Cause of all other evils there had never been any such thing as Sickness Pain Death Hell if Sin had never been Sin dos alienate from God Col. 1. 21. 'T is a most base Employment we cannot be engaged in fouler and filthier work than in working of Iniquity and is there any good that comes of it No no the works of Darkness are Unfruitfull Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had ye then in those works whereof ye are now ashamed All will repent of these evil works sooner or later the sooner the better for to repent in Hell will be too late Mind therefore your Consciences bidding you cease to do Evil else Evil will be extremely aggravated But if Evil be forsaken the great Bar to Mercy is removed and God is ready to pardon and be at peace with you Isa 55. 7. 2. Learn to do well Conscience will be pleased if God be pleased God is a Gracious Lord compare Him and Sin together Him and Satan together His Commands are not grievous he is ready to help you to do whatever he requires and to work all your works in you and for you Isa 26. 12. Your work if truely good will be wages because of that Peace and Joy at present to be found in the way of Righteousness for by good works it appears that Faith is of the right kind is the Faith of Gods Elect. Finally you must be judged according to your VVorks Rev. 22. 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be As you would stand at that day up and be doing the work of the Lord now I have done with that fourth Doctrine A good Conscience has a great and lasting Influence upon the Life and all the Actions Doct. 5. The fifth Doctrine is this A good Conscience steels a mans Heart with courage and makes him fearless before his Enemies Paul earnestly beheld the Councel He was not afraid to face them because his Conscience was clear Nay we read that Foelix the Judge trembled while Paul the Prisoner was confident the reason was because the Judge had a bad Conscience which flew in his face when he heard of Righteousness Temperance and Judgement to come Act. 24. 25. but the Prisoner being acquitted by a good Conscience did not tremble but rejoyce at the thoughts of Judgement to come VVhen Bradford was brought before the Chancellour he thought to brow-beat him but could not Bradford look'd him steadfastly in the Face and out-look'd him and then look'd up to Heaven I do not wonder that he did not fear the the Look of a Popish Bishop who was not afraid as it appeared afterwards of a fiery Faggot Now the grounds why those that have a good Conscience are Fearless be these 1. The Strength of God who is engaged for them is everlasting Isa 26. 4. In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength 2. As his Strength so his Covenant and Kindness are also everlasting Isa 54. 10. For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Kindness shall not depart from thee nor the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy upon thee Nothing shall be able to separate Believers from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. ult 3. Let the weakness of Enemies be considered Why should he that has a good Conscience be afraid of a Man that shall die and of the Son of man that shall be made as Grass 4. As Enemies are weak so they are limited they are absolutely under Gods Power they are as a staffe in his hand and cannot move or strike but as he pleases Let not the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith Isa 10. 15. Why should a good Conscience be afraid of the Axe since the Lord in whose hand the Axe is is so sure and great a Friend 5. There is an excellent Promise That what Men do mean for Evil shall turn to Good Nay all all things shall work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. God does admirably over-rule the Sins of men and does make these subservient to his own Glory and the Good of his people (i) Bonum est ut mala sint aliter non sineret Deus ut mala essent non sinit autem nolens utique sed volens Augustin The Selling of Joseph was the Preservation of Israel the Persecuting of the Christians the Enlargement of the Church the Killing and Death of Christ the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind VSE I. Of Encouragement to the Saints the Lord takes care to secure them from Fear as well as Harm His Spirit dwells in them to comfort them and Conscience is commanded to speak Peace unto the Sons of Peace in the Lords Name (k) Injustè torqueris quid nunc diceres si juste nullum nempe tormentum conscientia majus est illâ incolumi externâ haec despicito intra te est consolatur tuus Quosdam career ad insignem gloriam alios ad eximiam fortunam multos ad coelum misit ad sepulchrum omnes nullum cepit quem non redderet Petrarch VSE II. Of Caution Take heed of wounding Conscience for that will make you exceeding timerous If you comply a little in a sinfull way and use any unlawfull Means for securing of your selves this will spoyl your Peace and your Confidence and you must expect greater straits to make you see the folly of the Course you have taken And 't will be very sad to have a Storm without and a Tempest within at the same time VSE III. Of Terrour to Believers Adversaries There is very good reason why Fear should seize upon them they are engaged in bad work they have a bad Conscience and their End if they go on in this way